A new taxane composed of two N-formyl rotamers from Taxus canadensis

A taxane with an amino-side chain on C-5 was identified for the first time from rooted cuttings of the Canadian yew, Taxus canadensis. The structure was characterized as 7β,9α,10β,13α-tetraacetoxy-5α-[3′-(N-formyl-N-methylamino)-3′-phenylpropanoyl]oxytaxa-4(20),12-diene (1) on the basis of 1D-, 2D-NMR data, and HR-FABMS analyses. The spectra revealed that in CDCl₃ solution 1 was composed of two rotamers (1a and 1b) in a ratio of approximately 2:1.     

Novel taxane diterpenes from Taxus sumatrana with the first C-21 taxane ester

Phytochemical investigation of the taxane diterpenes content of an acetone extract of the leaves and twigs of Taxus sumatrana (Taxaceae) has resulted in the isolation of five new taxane diterpenes esters, tasumatrols H-L (1-5) together with 13 known taxanes (11-23). Compound 5 is the first 21-carbon taxane ester to be isolated from a natural source. The structures of these taxanes as well as their derivatives were established on the basis of spectral analyses, especially MS as well as 1-and 2D NMR. Compounds 2 and 4 showed significant activity against human liver carcinoma (Hepa59T/VGH), human large cell carcinoma of the lungs (NCI), human cervical epitheloid carcinoma (Hela), human colon adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) and human medulloblastoma (Med) cell lines.     

Gomerones A-C, halogenated sesquiterpenoids with a novel carbon skeleton from Laurencia majuscula

The structures and relative sterochemistry of three halogenated sesquiterpenoids gomerones A-C, 1-3, isolated from Laurencia majuscula are described. They are representative of a novel carbon skeleton, gomerane, biogenetically derived from cyclization of a β-chamigrene precursor. A biogenetic relationship with related sesquiterpenoids from lower terrestrial plants Hepaticae of genera Bazzania, Mannia, Mylia, and Rebouli as well as higher plants of genera Cupressus and Juniperus has been established.     

Longipedlactones A-I, nine novel triterpene dilactones possessing a unique skeleton from Kadsura longipedunculata

Nine novel triterpene dilactones with an unprecedented rearranged pentacyclic skeleton, longipedlactones A-I (1-9), have been isolated from the leaves and stems of Kadsura longipedunculata Finet et Gagnep (Schisandraceae). Their structures were determined on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and single-crystal X-ray structure determination. A biogenetic pathway for longipedlactone A (1) was also proposed. Compounds 1-3, 6, and 8 showed significant cytotoxicity against A549, with HT-29 and K562 cell lines having IC₅₀ values of 0.84-11.38 μM in vitro.     

Caminatal, an aldehyde sesterterpene with a novel carbon skeleton from the Antarctic sponge Suberites caminatus

A new sesterterpene, caminatal 1, containing a bicyclic terpenoid moiety with an aldehyde appendage in combination with an isolated isoprenic aromatic ring leading to a novel carbon skeleton has been obtained from the Antarctic sponge Suberites caminatus. Its structure and relative stereochemistry were established by spectroscopic evidence and biogenetic considerations.     

Neoverataline A and B, two antifungal alkaloids with a novel carbon skeleton from Veratrum taliense

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanol extract of the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum taliense yielded two new and thirteen known steroidal alkaloids. The structures of the two new compounds, neoverataline A and B, were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses to be 3,4-secocevane-4,9-olid-14,15,16,20-tetra-ol-3-oic acid and 3,4-secocevane-4,9-olid-7,14,15,16,20-penta-ol-3-oic acid, respectively, and are a novel carbon skelton. All of the fifteen alkaloids were subjected to in vitro antifungal assays, which showed that the verazine- (veramitaline, stenophylline B, stenophylline B-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, veramiline-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside) and jerveratrum-type (jervine, jervine-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside) alkaloids exhibited strong antifungal activities against the phytopathogenic fungus Phytophthora capisis with MICs of 160, 120, 160, 80, 80 and 120 μg·L⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, the verazine-type alkaloids stenophylline B, stenophylline B 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and veramiline 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside were shown to also inhibit the growth of another fungal phytopathogen Rhizoctonia cerealis with MICs of 160, 120 and 120 μg mL⁻¹. The MICs of triadimefon (an antifungal agrochemical used herein as a positive control) against P. capisis and R. cerealis were 120 and 80 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. A preliminary structure-activity relationship regarding these alkaloids has been formulated.     

Kopsifolines A, B, and C, indole alkaloids with a novel hexacyclic carbon skeleton from Kopsia

Three indole alkaloids, viz., kopsifolines A, B, and C, characterized by a novel carbon skeleton, were obtained from a Malayan Kopsia species and the structures established by spectroscopic analysis.     

Cochinchistemonine, a novel skeleton alkaloid from Stemona cochinchinensis

Cochinchistemonine (1), an alkaloid with a novel skeleton, was isolated from the roots of Stemona cochinchinensis collected from northern Vietnam. Its structure was established on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR and other spectroscopic studies. The relative configuration was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment.     

Castanolide and epi-castanolide, two novel diterpenoids with a unique seco-norabietane skeleton from Salviacastanea Diels f. pubescens Stib.

Castanolide (1) and epi-castanolide (2), two novel diterpenoids possessing a unique seco-norabietane skeleton, were isolated from Salviacastanea Diels f. pubescens Stib. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated by extensive NMR analysis and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. A possible biosynthetic pathway of these two compounds was also proposed.     

Lycopladine H, a novel alkaloid with fused-tetracyclic skeleton from Lycopodium complanatum

A novel Lycopodium alkaloid, lycopladine H (1), with a fused-tetracyclic ring system consisting of an azocane ring connected to a [2,2,2]-bicyclooctane ring and a 3-piperidone ring, was isolated from the club moss Lycopodium complanatum. The structure and relative stereochemistry of 1 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Naupliolide, a sesquiterpene lactone with a novel tetracyclic skeleton from Nauplius graveolens subsp. odorus

The aerial parts of Nauplius graveolens subsp. odorus (Schousb) Wikl. afforded a novel sesquiterpene lactone (1) named naupliolide together with the known 6,7,9,10-tetradehydroasteriscanolide 2 and asteriscunolides A-D 3a-d. The structure of compound 1 corresponds to a novel skeleton of 14,15-dimethyl-7,13-dioxotricyclic[6.4.0.0^9,11]dodeca-12,13-olide, and was established on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR. The coexistence of naupliolide 1 together with the structurally related sesquiterpene lactones asterisculolides A-D (3a-d) and 6,7,9,10-tetradehydroasteriscanolide 2, seems to indicate their biosynthetic relationship.     

Canarene: a triterpenoid with a unique carbon skeleton from Canarium schweinfurthii

Canarene (1), a triterpene with an unprecedented carbon backbone, was isolated from Canarium schweinfurthii . It is the first member of a new class of triterpenoids, for which the name "canarane' is proposed. 1 showed weak α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and its structure was unambiguously deduced by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Spirocurcasone, a diterpenoid with a novel carbon skeleton from Jatropha curcas

Spirocurcasone (14), a diterpenoid possessing the unprecedented "spirorhamnofolane" skeleton, was isolated from the root barks of Jatropha curcas, a plant extensively cultivated throughout the world, along with 11 known and two other new diterpenoids. The stereostructure of spirocurcasone was established using HRESIMS, NMR, and quantum mechanical calculation of the electronic circular dichroic (ECD) spectrum. Some of the isolated diterpenoids showed a potent activity against L5178Y, a mouse lymphoma cell line.     

Neosappanone A, a xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory dimeric methanodibenzoxocinone with a new carbon skeleton from Caesalpinia sappan

A novel dimeric methanodibenzoxocinone, named neosappanone A (1), possessing a unique unprecedented novel carbon framework, has been isolated from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L. of Vietnam, and its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Neosappanone A (1) competitively inhibited xanthine oxidase in a concentration-dependent manner (IC₅₀, 29.7 μM; K_i, 16.3 μM).     

Codonopiloneolignanin A,a polycyclic neolignan with a new carbon skeleton from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula

A neolignan codonopiloneolignanin A(1) with a novel 2,9:2',9:7,7'-tricyclo-8,'-neolignane skeleton was isolated from an aqueous extract of the Codonopsis pilosula roots. Its structure including the absolute configuration was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR and electronic circular dichroism calculation. The proposed biosynthetic pathway of compound 1 is also discussed.     

A novel 3,8-seco-taxane metabolite from the seeds of the Chinese yew, Taxus mairei

The structure of a novel 3,8-seco-bicyclic taxanoid metabolite, isolated from the methanol extract of seeds of the Chinese yew, Taxus mairei, was established as (11αH)-3,8-seco-taxa-3E,7E,12(18)-triene-2α,6α,9β-triol (1) on the basis of spectral analysis including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY and HR-FABMS.     

Myrioneurinol: a novel alkaloid skeleton from Myrioneuron nutans

A new alkaloid, myrioneurinol (1), was isolated from the leaves of Myrioneuron nutans and its structure determined from spectral analysis, including mass spectrometry and 2D NMR. Myrioneurinol (1) presented an unprecedented fused tetracyclic skeleton. The absolute configuration was established by the modified Mosher's method, using (R)- and (S)-9-anthrylmethoxyacetic acid (9-AMAA). A plausible biosynthetic pathway starting from l-lysine via Δ-piperideine was proposed for 1 in comparison with nitraramine biosynthesis and related alkaloids.     

A trypanocidal diterpene with novel skeleton from Dracocephalum komarovi

A new diterpene, komarovispirone (1) with a spiro-octahydroindene skeleton, was isolated from Dracocephalum komarovi. The structure was elucidated by extensive analyses of spectral data. Komarovispirone (1) showed trypanocidal activity against epimastigote of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of American trypanosomiasis, with a minimum lethal concentration of 23 μM.     

Calyciphylline G, a novel alkaloid with an unprecedented fused-hexacyclic skeleton from Daphniphyllum calycinum

Calyciphylline G (1), a novel Daphniphyllum alkaloid with an unprecedented fused-hexacyclic skeleton containing a 5-azatricyclo[6.2.1.0^1,5]undecane ring, has been isolated from the stem of Daphniphyllum calycinum (Daphniphyllaceae), and the structure and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.